“Did you think they were admiring the coffee-pots and candlesticks?” asked Zedwitz. “That’s only a feint—I saw them looking up at the Rosenberg windows. It is a regular _window parade_, and they have been here nearly an hour; for I saw them in the street, as I entered the house. Let us cross over and see whether it be intended for Hildegarde, or Crescenz.” They crossed the street, looked up, and saw Madame Berger sitting at the window, teaching Crescenz the promised pretty and strong purse-stitch. Although the latter appeared extremely intent on her work, she was evidently aware of what was passing in the street, for, as Zedwitz and Hamilton saluted, she bowed and blushed deeply. “_She_, at least, has not yet learned to play unconscious,” observed Zedwitz, laughing; “Madame Berger can give her some instruction.” “Do you know Madame Berger?” asked Hamilton. “Of course; her husband is our physician. She is very pretty, and the greatest coquette in Christendom. I say, Raimund, what are you admiring in that shop?” said Zedwitz, stopping suddenly opposite the brazier’s and addressing one of the officers. “The kitchen utensils, Max! I shall soon be obliged to purchase such things, and they have a kind of mysterious interest for me now.” “You don’t mean to say that you are going to keep house—going to be married?” “My father says so, which is much more to the purpose,” replied Raimund. “And who is the happy woman destined to make you a respectable member of society?” “They tell me she lives in that house,” replied Raimund, pointing to the one they had just left. “The third story?” asked Zedwitz, quickly. “No, Max, for a _wife_ I do not look so high,” replied the other, ironically. “And when may I offer my congratulations?” “Not just now, if you please, for, as I have never yet spoken to the lady, something might occur to prevent the thing; but I have very nearly made up my mind.” Zedwitz laughed and walked on with Hamilton. “I hope he has told the truth,” he said, musingly; “I hope he has told the truth, for I should be very sorry if he made his way into the Rosenberg family. He is very clever, but a great reprobate; has already seduced two girls of respectable connections, and is not ashamed to boast of his success.” “Were there no fathers, no brothers, no cousins, to compel him to make reparation?” asked Hamilton. “As it happened, there were none,” replied Zedwitz; “but even if there had been, he has not the caution-money, and could not marry. If he were serious just now, I suppose his father has discovered some rich _partie_ for him, and that he will succeed, I do not for a moment doubt. He pretends to have a regular system of seduction, which consists in several gradations of improper books—it is disgusting to hear him descant on the subject.” “But he will carefully avoid anything of that kind with his future wife?” said Hamilton.